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What is a Community Cat?

Community Cat is used to describe any free-roaming, outdoor cat. Some are not socialized with people, while others are friendly and may have been lost or abandoned by their previous families. Because they live outside, and oftentimes are being fed and cared for by one or more neighbors, they are called community cats.

There are Community Cats in every neighborhood. Although you may not recognize a cat, if it looks well-fed and healthy, someone is providing the basic care it needs. There is no reason to bring these cats to an animal shelter, as they are not lost.

How can I help Community Cats?

If you are already feeding one or more cats, besides providing food and shelter, the most important action you can take is to make sure every cat you feed is spayed or neutered and vaccinated.

If you aren't feeding a Community Cat but know someone who is, you can still help by making sure the cats are fixed and vaccinated. The common term for this is TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) where cats are trapped, fixed and returned to where they came from.

What do I do if I find kittens?

Leave kittens with mom. Mom cats do not typically abandon their kittens. Like all babies, kittens are best left with their mothers who instinctively know how to help their kittens grow up to be strong and healthy cats.

If you know the mother is present, it is best to leave kittens with her. To determine whether the mother is caring for the kittens, wait and observe for two to four hours to see if the mother returns. The mother could just be out looking for food. If she doesn’t return, the kitten(s) could be abandoned.

Neonatal kittens, 4 weeks old or younger, need constant care and still depend on mom for 100 percent of their food. Kittens 5 to 8 weeks old can begin to eat wet food, but are still being weaned.